Yun Wanyao gazed blankly at the Arm Binding Gold inside the brocade box. No wonder her little sister said she liked it very much and couldnāt resist wearing it for a long time.
It truly is a beautiful piece of jewelry, and even now she finds herself quite fond of it.
If it were to be melted down, wouldnāt that be such a pity?
"Yao, do you like it?"
Observing her expression, Pei Yu confidently spoke.
Yun Wanyao snapped back to reality and said, "I like it, but Brother Pei, put it away, please. This gift is too valuable; I cannot accept it."
"Why canāt you? I specifically found this for you, Yao. In just over three months, youāll reach the age of maturity. But alas, the border situation is urgent, and Iām afraid I wonāt be able to attend your coming-of-age ceremony, so I sent it to you early."
"This is for your coming-of-age ceremony. Are you really going to refuse it?"
Pei Yu looked at her with a somewhat desolate expression, his voice tinged with a heart-wrenching sadness.
Seeing this, Yun Wanyao sneered in her heart. She used to not realize it, but this guy can put on quite an act.
"Well, then thank you, Brother Pei."
Casually, Yun Wanyao accepted the brocade box.
Since hearing Yun Wanqingās heartfelt words, she hadnāt planned to refuse. In the storyline, this guy harmed her so badly; why shouldnāt she take a pair of Arm Binding Gold as compensation?
The previous remarks were just for show.
Heād already brought the gift; how could he really take it back because she said she couldnāt accept it?
After accepting the gift, Yun Wanyao didnāt hesitate to issue an order to leave.
"Brother Pei, itās getting late. You should go back soon."
Pei Yu was slightly taken aback and then looked at her with a touch of desolation, "Yao, do you really want me to leave so badly?"
Yun Wanyao: "..."
Yes, absolutely, looking at you for even an extra second makes my eyes ache.
"Brother Pei, what are you saying? Itās just that I have things to attend to, and Iām worried the servants might neglect you, hence my suggestion."
"If Brother Pei doesnāt mind, you can stay here, and my father will be back soon, so you could meet him."
"But I really must go."
With those words, Yun Wanyao hugged the brocade box and was about to leave when Pei Yu hurriedly got up and grabbed her arm. Yun Wanyao turned her head, looked at his hand on her arm, raised her head, and smiled slightly.
"Brother Pei, you know itās not appropriate for men and women to touch. If King Qi finds out, heāll be angry."
Pei Yu: "..."
He reluctantly released his hand, touched his nose, but his eyes grew cold.
King Qi, always King Qi.
"Sorry, I overstepped. But Yao... do you really like King Qi?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Wanyao looked at him in surprise and deliberately asked, "Why does Brother Pei ask such a question?"
"My engagement with King Qi was arranged by the late Emperor. Does it matter whether I like him or not?"
"It matters!"
Pei Yuās expression suddenly became firm, "As long as you donāt like him, Yao, Iāll find a way to help you."
"What way?"
This time, Yun Wanyao was genuinely surprised, "This was an engagement set by the late Emperor. Does Brother Pei really have a way?"
Pei Yu sighed and said, "Where thereās a will, thereās a way, Yao. As long as you want it, Iāll find a way, no matter what."
Itās just an engagement. If King Qi falls for someone else, or if Yaoās reputation takes a hit, or if thereās a rift between them, this engagement can definitely be broken.
The best way is for Yaoās reputation to be tarnished, preferably by being pregnant with anotherās child out of wedlock.
With that, he wouldnāt believe King Qi would still want to marry her.
After all, King Qi is the Emperorās own brother. If he wants to break the engagement, the Emperor will surely agree.
Pei Yuās eyes flashed, and devious ideas began to form one after another.
"Heh, I was just joking earlier. I hope Brother Pei doesnāt take it to heart. How could I not like King Qi?"
"Iāve liked him since I was young. In this life, Iāll marry no one but him. Brother Pei, please donāt say such things again; it makes me unhappy."
Observing his expression, Yun Wanyao could tell that he probably hadnāt come up with any good ideas, likely ones that would harm her.
She does want to break off the engagement, but she isnāt foolish enough to sacrifice herself or the Duke Mansionās reputation to do so.
The Duke Mansion doesnāt only have her as a child; thereās also her elder brothers and younger sister. If her reputation is tarnished, then what would become of her brothers and sister?
While rejecting Pei Yu, she also made sure to taunt him deliberately.
This guy likes her, doesnāt he?
Then fine, sheās just going to tell him she likes King Qi, ruthlessly tormenting his heart and fueling his hatred toward King Qi.
If he could irrationally decide to deal with King Qi, that would be even betterāthere might even be a mutually destructive outcome.